Sometimes, good things come in small packages It is amusing to recall that the modern Mini which many people know and have affection for was actually a product of political and economic reproach a decade-and-a-half ago. In 1994, German’s BMW’s takeover of the British Rover Group was something akin to a conquest of the mid-Atlantic island. Back in history, BMW held control for six years and in that time split the company moved into the three parts. Keeping all it needed for new projects such as the X5, BMW sold Land Rover to Ford, and further held on to Mini. When assessing the pint-sized car, the Mini of 2001 was wider, taller and longer than the 60s original, and at the time, rather extraordinarily, BMW went so far to produce the car in a way that it will suit those that are 50mm taller than they were in 1960. Currently, the new Mini was bigger because it had to meet new safety requirements, but despite the large visual presence, it still remains a compact car. It was a small car that looked big, felt big on the inside, but felt small everywhere else, and pretty small overall. Since then, BMW has ventured into four-door and three-door Minis, convertibles, hot JCW versions and the Mini E electric car for the future. All in a decade’s work for a German company with a great British brand to cultivate. BusinessDay Motoring was recently reacquainted with the good old Mini Cooper of 2001 and comparing it with that of the 2011 Cooper S, it was really astonishing how accomplished both models were. Read More at Mini Cooper still super charged, decade after*